Korean J Spine.  2015 Dec;12(4):283-286. 10.14245/kjs.2015.12.4.283.

Plasmacytoma to the Axis Mimicking Metastatic Paraganglioma: Circumferential Reconstruction via Posterior Approach

• Park YS
• Hyun SJ
• Kim KJ
• Jahng TA

• KMID: 2288378
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2015.12.4.283

Abstract

Plasmacytoma is a malignant plasma cell tumor growing within soft tissue or the axial skeleton. Here, we present the case of a patient with plasmacytoma of the axis vertebra who underwent decompressive surgery with reconstruction via a posterior approach. The patient was referred because of quadriparesis with severe neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a relatively demarcated, highly enhanced mass lesion in a destructed axis, with spinal cord compression. Computed tomography revealed a 5.6x4.3 cm adrenal mass at the left retroperitoneal space. We suspected the axis lesion to be a metastatic paraganglioma from the adrenal mass. The patient underwent total excision of the tumor under an operative microscope with occipitocervical fixation. Histopathologically, the tumor was shown to be a plasmacytoma. Following the operation, the patient recovered without significant complications. This was a rare case of plasmacytoma in the axis, mimicking metastatic paraganglioma.

Keyword

Plasmacytoma; Axis; Paraganglioma; Posterior surgery; Fusion

MeSH Terms

Axis, Cervical Vertebra*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neck Pain
Paraganglioma*
Plasmacytoma*
Quadriplegia
Retroperitoneal Space
Skeleton
Spinal Cord Compression
Spine